title: The effectiveness of telemedicine for weight management in the MOVE! Program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness of videoconferencing technology for delivering comprehensive weight management treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study was conducted by extraction of data from medical records for the years 2008-2010. The treatment included a series of 12 weekly MOVE!® classes delivered using videoconferencing. Data were extracted from the time of baseline weight to 1 year after baseline weight for the MOVE! participants (n = 60) and from a concurrent control group (n = 60) that did not participate in MOVE! treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that the MOVE! group lost weight while the control group gained weight, resulting in a mean difference between the groups of -5.5 ± 2.7 kg (95% CI = -8.0 to -3.0; P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that videoconferencing is an effective method to provide the MOVE! Weight Management Program to veterans. Weight loss was maintained for one year after baseline in the MOVE! group. This is very promising as weight re-gain is a common issue and these results support using videoconferencing for a long-term weight management treatment option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
authors.forename: April D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ahrendt
authors.forename: Kendra K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kattelmann
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Rector
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Maddox
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013023:South Dakota; D014728:Veterans; D049269:Videoconferencing
keywords: health promotion; obesity; telemedicine; videoconferencing; weight loss